High speed serial printing device for teleprinters, accounting
machines and data processing equipment

ABSTRACT

A SERIAL PRINTING DEVICE COMPRISES A HORIZONTALLY CONTINOUSLY ROTATING TYPEWHEEL COOPERATING WITH A HAMMER SO WIDE AS TO ENGAGE DURING EACH REVOLUTION OF THE TYPEWHEEL ANY TYPE TO EFFECT A FLYING PRINTING IN A CONSTANT POINT OF THE PAPER, DESPITE A CONTINOUS MUTUAL LETTER SPACING MOVEMENT. THE TYPEWHEEL COMPRISES A SECTOR DEVOID OF TYPES, WHEREAS THE OTHER SECTOR IS PROVIDED WITH THE TYPES ARRANGED AT A VARIABLE MUTUAL DISTANCE. THE HAMMER IS CUSHIONED BY A STACK OF PLATES. THE TYPEWHEEL MAY COOPERATE WITH MORE THAN ONE HAMMER OR MAY BE CAUSED TO PRINT BOTH DURING THE ADVANCING AND THE RETURN STROKE OF A CARRIAGE.   D R A W I N G

Re. 27,542 ERS, ACCOUNTING mm V. PERUCCA HIGH SPEED SERIAL PRINTINGDEVICE FOR TELEPRINT MACHINES AND DATA PROCESSING EQUIP! Original FiledMarch 31, 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INV EN TOR. VINCENZO PERUCCA BY Z AGENTRe. 27,542 ACCOUNTING Jan. 9, 1973 v. PERUCCA HIGH SPEED SERIAL PRINTINGDEVICE FOR TELEPRINTERS,

, MACHINES AND DATA PROCESSING EQUIPIIENT Original Filed larch 31, 19675 Sheets-Sheet 2 18 slluulhlhlwl 53 15 liilililililili Fig. 2

INVENTOR. VINCENZO PERUCCA BY fi NT I 9, 1973 v. PERUCCA Re. 27,542

HIGH SPEED SERIAL PRINTING DEVICE FOR TELEPRINTERS, ACCOUNTING MACHINESAND DATA PROCESSING EQUIPMENT Original Filed larch 31, 1967 5Sheets-Shoot 3 IN VEN TOR.

VINCENZO PERUCCA BY Jr Jan. 9, 1973 v. PERUCCA HIGH SPEED SERIALPRINTING DEVICE FOR TELEPRIN'IERS ACCOUNTING MACHINES AND DATAPROCESSING EQUIPTMENT Filed April 29. 1970 5 Shoots-Shut 4.

INVENTOR. VINCENZO PERUCCA BY j/AJ/ A ENT V. PERUCCA Jain. 9. 1973 HIGHSPEED SERIAL PRINTING DEVICE FOR TELEPRINTERS. ACCOUNTING IACHINES ANDDATA PROCESSING EQUIPTMENT Filed April 29. 1970 5 Shuts-Shut 5 mwsmonVINCENZO PERUCCA,

United States Patent 27,542 HIGH SPEED SERIAL PRINTING DEVICE FORTELEPRINTERS, ACCOUNTING MACHINES AND DATA PROCESSING EQUIPMENT VincenzoPerucca, Ivrea, Italy, assignor to lug. C. Olivetti & C., S.p.A., Ivrea,Italy Original No. 3,415,184, dated Dec. 10, 1968, Ser. No. 627,443,Mar. 31, 1967. Application for reissue Apr. 29, 1970, Ser. No. 32,790

Int. Cl. B41j 9/02, J/34 US. Cl. 101-93 C 14 Claims Matter enclosed inheavy brackets If] appears in the original patent but forms no part ofthis reissue specification; matter printed in italics indicates theadditions made by reissue.

ABSTRACT on THE DISCLOSURE A serial printing device comprises ahorizontally continuously rotating typewheel cooperating with a hammerso wide as to engage during each revolution of the typewheel any type toeifect a flying printing in a constant point of the paper, despite acontinuous mutual letter spacing movement. The typewheel comprises asector devoid of types, whereas the other sector is provided with thetypes arranged at a variable mutual distance. The hammer is cushioned bya stack of plates. The typewheel may cooperate with more than one hammeror may be caused to print both during the advancing and the returnstroke of a carriage.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a high speedserial printing device for teleprinters, accounting machines, and dataprocessing equipments, comprising a typewheel continuously rotating on asubstantially vertical axis, a hammer selectively operable to eifect aflying printing of a selected type of said typewheel, a frame formounting said typewheel and said hammer in an aligned transverserelationship, and feeding means for causing the paper and said frame tobe relatively letter spaced.

There are known several flying printing devices, wherein the typewheelsare rotatable on a horizontal shaft; Since the types are generallyhigher than wide, these typewheels have a large diameter, whereby thespeed of the device, due to the centrifugal force of the typewheel, isrelatively limited.

It is also known a serial printing device wherein a type drum isprovided with a plurality of parallel rows of types, while the hammer istransversely displaced stepwise. The type drum is very expensive, whileits speed cannot exceed the speed of a typewheel rotatable on ahorizontal shaft.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION These and other disadvantages are obviated bythe high speed serial printing device according to the invention, whichis characterized in that said typewheel comprises a first sector bearinga set of types arranged substantially parallel to said axis, and anothersector devoid of types, and in that means connected to said typewheelenable said feeding means to effect at a constant speed a feedingmovement at least equal to one letter space during one revolution ofsaid typewheel, said hammer being operated concomitantly with a selectedpulse generated by a timing disk rotatable synchronously with saidtypewheel and adapted to generate in association with ice each type ofsaid typewheel a specifically timed operating pulse so as to cause saidhammer to strike the progressively more trailing types in respect to theleading type of said first sector at progressively displaced positionswith respect to said hammer in the advancing direction of said paper toprint during each revolution of said typewheel any type in the range ofa predetermined letter space of said paper, even if said paper iseffecting said constant speed feeding movement for being letter spaced.

This and other characteristics of the invention will become apparentfrom the following description of two preferred embodiments thereof, andfrom the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a partial plan view of afirst embodiment of the serial printing device according to theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a partial vertical sectional view according to the line IIIIof FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view according to the line III--III ofFIG. 2;

FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and 7 represent a diagrammatic view of the device of FIG.1, in four different operated positions;

FIG. 8 is a partial plan view of a second embodiment of the printingdevice according to the invention;

FIG. 9 is a partial sectional plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a partial sectional view according to the line XX of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a right hand partial longitudinal sectional view of thedevice of FIG. 8;

FIG. 12 is a partial sectional view according to the line XIIXII of FIG.9.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION According to afirst embodiment of the invention the high speed serial printing devicecomprises a typewheel 15 (FIG. 1) secured to a vertical shaft 16continuously rotated clockwise by an electric motor not shown in thedrawings. The wheel 15 is provided with a first major sector 14 bearingsixty-four types 18 peripherally arranged parallel to the shaft 16 andinterspersed with void 17, and with a second minor sector. 17 devoidoftypes and having a predetermined circumferential expanse commensuratein a manner which will be disclosed laten,

Secured to the shaft 16 is also a. disk .19 (1 16.3) provided with pulsegenerating elements or holes 20.,arbe in a constant transverserelationship with ;the type- 18 (FIG. 2) in a manner to be describedandjadapted to generate in cooperation with a photocell--21 aspecifically timed pulse in association with each type 18 of the typewheel 15. Thedisk 19 is provided with another hole 55 adapted to generate incooperation with a photocell ,60 a starting pulse determining thebeginning of a printing operation.

The printing device comprises also a hammer22 (FIG. 1) adapted tocooperate with the typewheel 15 for eifecting a flying printing of aselected type 18. The hammer 22 is slidably mounted on a stationaryguide 23so as to be in a constant transverse relaionship with the type.-wheel 15 and is provided with a striking face 24 arcuate according tothe radius of the typewheel15.

The hammer 22 is urged by a spring 25 to normally contact a projection26 of an armature 27 of a normally deenergized electromagnet 28. Thearmature 27 is fulcrumed on a stationary pivot 29 and is urged by aspring 30 to normally contact a projecting portion 31 of a plate l2projecting from an opening 33 of a stationary box 34. I-Ioused in thebox 34 is a stack of substantially flat recangular metallic plates 35.

Since the plates 35 are never prefectly plane, a gap 'emains between theadjacent plates 35, which operate as eaf springs. The plates 35 areparticularly adapted to :ushion the shock and quickly reduce thevibrations of he armature 27 due to the yieldable impact produced ipondeenergization of the electromagnet 28, ths reducng the time requiredfor restoration of the armature 27 LIId the hammer 22. The hammer 22,the electromagnet t8, the armature 27 and the box 34, are housed in arenovable container 36 indicated by a broken line in FIG. 1.

Furthermore, the printing device comprises feeding means for a papertape 37 that unwinds from a reel 38. the tape 37 firstly passes betweena pair of idle rollers 39 LIld 41, and then is guided by another idleroller 42 to vass between the typewheel 15 and the hammer 22. Fitally,the tape 37 is guided by a further roller 43 secured o a shaft 44rotatable on the stationary machine frame tlld is wound on a feedingroller 45 secured to another otatable shaft 46. The roller 45 cooperateswith a pressng roller 47 fulcrumed on a lever 48 provided with a lotch49 engaging a stationary pin 51. The lever 48 is lrged by a spring 52 tonormally contact both the pin 51 .nd a stationary member 53. Secured toan end of the ever 48 is an armature 54 of a second electromagnet 56tdapted to be energized for controlling the beginning of he printingoperation. Particularly the electromagnet 56 vhen energized alsocontrols the energization of the elecromagnet 28 in a manner known perse.

Between the paper tape 37 and the hammer 22 passes to ink ribbon 57,which is unwound from a spool 58 idle )n a shaft 59 and is guided by theroller 42 and by a staionary pin 61. Then the ink ribbon 57 passesbetween a oller 62 secured to a shaft 63- rotatable on the machine Frameand a pressing roller 64. Secured to the two shafts t4 and '63 are twointerrneshing pinions 67 and 68 (FIG. 3). Finally the ink ribbon 57 iswound up by a spool 65 Frictionally driven by a shaft 66- rotatable onthe machine :rame.

Secured to the shaft 46 is a pulley 69 connected by a elt 72 to anotherpulley 71 secured to the shaft 66. Se- :ured to the shaft 46 is also aWorm gear 73 meshing with t worm 74 secured to a horizontal shaft 76rotatable on he machine frame. The shaft 76 is continuously rotated :ythe shaft 16 of the typewheel 15- through a pair of in- ;ermeshing wormgears 77.

The circumferential expanse of the sector 17 is the mininum possiblecommensurate to the time required by the lammer 22 to be restoreduponoperation, taking into recount the rotating speed of the typewheel15. More articularly, the hammer 22 upon striking a type requires Forbeing restored a predetermined time depending from he physicalcharacteristics of the hammer 22, the springs 25, 30, the electromagnet28 and the cushioning plates 35. [he angular expanse of the sector 17 isequal to the )roduct of the angular speed of the typewheel 15 by thetbove restoring time, so that in the case the last type 18 s printedduring one revolution of the typewheel 15, the iammer 22 will be readyfor printing the first type in the 1ext following revolution of thetypewheel 15.

The width of the striking face 24 of the hammer 22 is vider than onetype 18 and less than one type plus the tdjacent voids 17' as to engageduring each revolution of he typewheel 15 the entire printing face of aselected type .8 without affecting the adjacent types 18. Furthermore,atio between the width of the striking face 24 and the etter space isequal to the ratio between the length of he sector 14 and thecircumferenceof the typewheel 15. *urthermore, the voids 17 adjacentthe, various types 18 lave a variable width which is always equal to theporion of the striking face 24 which by striking a type 18 emains free;the types 18 are thus symmetrically aranged in respect to the sector 17and their adjacent voids from the leading type 18 to the trailing types18 of the sector 14 have a width which is firstly decreasing and thenincreasing. The types 1 8 are thus the most possible mutuallyapproached, whereby the typewheel 15 may be designed with the minimumpossible diameter and may be rotated at a very high angular speed.

The printing device of FIGS. 13 operates as follows.

The printing device is controlled in a known manner by an apparatusadapted to serially supply signals corresponding to the characters to beprinted, for example a teleprinter receiving apparatus, an electroniccalculator, an accounting machine, or a data processing equipment ingeneral. Normally the typewheel 15 is rotated clockwise bodily with theshaft 16 and the disk 19. The shaft 16 through the gears 77 (FIG. 3),the shaft 76, the worms 74, and the gears 73, rotates the shaft 46counterclockwise bodily with the roller 45 (FIG. 1) and the pulley 69(FIG. 3). This latter through the belt 72 and the pulley 71 rotates theshaft 66, which however normally slips in respect to the spool 65 (FIG.1).

When a start signal is generated, in concomitance with a pulse generatedby the photocell 60 upon reading the hole 55 of the disk 19, theelectromagnet 56 is energized in a known manner. The electromagnet 56attracts the armature 54, which firstly rocks the lever 48 around thepin 51, until the roller 47 bears against the feeding roller 45, thuspinching the tape 37 between the rollers 45 and 47. Thereafter the lever48 is rocked around the contacting point of the rollers 45 and 47, untilthe armature 54 bears against the core of the electromagnet 56. The tape37 is yieldably pinched between the rollers 45 and 47 by the action ofthe spring 52 and is fed leftwards at such a speed as to cover a letterspace during each revolution of the typewheel 15. The tape 37 whileadvancing causes the roller 43 to rotate clockwise bodily with thepinion 67 (FIG. 3). This latter rotates the pinion 68 counterclockwisebodily with the roller 62 (FIG. 1), which causes the ink ribbon 57 to beadvanced leftwards. The ribbon 57 is now wound up on the spool 65 whichis frictionally driven by the shaft 66.

Furthermore, the electromagnet 56 predisposes in a known manner theelectromagnet 28 to be energized during each revolution of the typewheel15 by the signal corresponding to the character to be printed inconcomitance with the pulse generated by the photocell 21 (FIG. 2) uponreading the hole 20 of the disk 19 corresponding to the character to beprinted. Particularly, the holes of the. disk 19 are so located as toenable the hammer face 24 to strike the various types 18 with portionsdistanced proportionally to the distance between the types. Therefore,the progressively more trailing types 18 in respect to the leading type18 of the sector 14 are struck at progressively displaced positions inthe advancing direction of the paper 37 with respect to the hammer face24, so that the corresponding character is printed in a predeterminedletter space of the paper, even if the paper is effecting the constantfeeding movement for being letter spaced. Therefore, if the character tobe printed is that of the first type 18 (FIG. 1) passing in front of thehammer 22 after the-portion 17, the corresponding hole 20 of the disk 19causes the hammer 22 to strike in the instant in which the typewheel 15is located in the position of FIG. 4, that is with the type 18 at theright end of the striking face 24 of the hammer 22. At this instant thetape 37 presents also the printing point in front of the right handportion of the striking face 24. The space between the first type 18 andthe sector 17 is such as to prevent the striking face 24 from engagingbeside the type 18 also the portion 17.

If the character to be printed is that of an intermediate type 1 8 asshown in FIG. 5, since the tape 37 has in the meanwhile displacedleftward the printing point, the corresponding hole 20 (FIG. 3) of thedisk 19 causes the hammer 22 to strike in the instant the type 18 infront of the striking face 24 (FIG. 5) at a distance from its right handend which is proportional to the distance of the type 18 to be printedfrom the first type 18 next following the sector 17. Particularly, ifthe character to be printed is that of the central type 18 (FIG. 6), thehammer 22 strikes the type 18 when this latter is centered with respectto the striking face 24. Finally, if the character to be printed in thatof the last type 18 as shown in FIG. 7, the hammer 22 strikes the type18 in the instant the type 18 is located at the left hand end of thestriking face 24.

In any case immediately after each striking operation the electromagnet28 (FIG. 1) becomes deenergized and the spring 30 restores the armature27, while the spring 25 restores the hammer 22. The shock of thearmature 27 and of the hammer 22 is cushioned and their possiblevibrations when restored are quickly reduced by the plates 35.

The arrangement of the typewheel 15 and of the types 18 are suitable forsimultaneously printing at least two different print works. To this endthe embodiment of FIGS. 1-3 comprises another hammer 22" and a feedingdevice for another tape 37' as well as another feeding device for asecond ink ribbon 57'. The members of these devices are locatedsymmetrically to those described in connection with the first hammer 22and are indicated by similar primed numeral references and do not needto be described. The operation of the hammer 22 is similar to that ofthe hammer 22, and is controlled by the same holes 20 (FIG. 2) of thedisk 19, which however are now read by a second photocell 21'.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the printing device isdesigned as a page printing device, for example for continuous forms. Tothis end the printing device comprises a carriage generically indicatedby the numeral 78 (FIG. 8), which comprises a container 79 (FIG. 9) anda bar 80 connected at the two ends by two U-shaped arms 81, thecontainer 79 is provided at its two ends with a pair of boredprojections 82 (FIG. transversely slidable on a stationary transverseshaft 83'. Fulcrumed on a projection 84 of the bar 80 are two rollers 85cooperating with a stationary guide bar 86.

Mounted on the container 79 of the carriage 78 is a set of fourequidistant typewheels (FIG. 8) each one adapted to cooperatewith acorresponding hammer 22 housed in a corresponding container 36 securedto the bar 80 of the carriage 78. The typewheels 15 and the containers36 are identical to those shown in the embodiment of FIG. 1. Theprinting device comprises a pair of sprocket feed devices 87 adapted tofeed a continuous form, shown by broken lines in FIG. 8, in the spacebetween the container 79 and the bar 80 and therefore between thetypewheels 15 and the containers 36.

More particularly, each typewheel 15 is secured to a corresponding shaft16 rotatably mounted on two horizontal plates 88 and 89 (FIG. 10) of thecontainer 79. Secured to each shaft 16 is a worm gear 90 intermeshingwith a similar worm gear 91 secured to a horizontal shift 92 (FIG. 9).This latter is rotatable on two side walls 190 of the container 79 andis extended leftwards on a fluted portion 93 slidable within acomplementally fluted sleeve 94 rotatably mounted on the stationarymachine frame. The sleeve 94, and therefore the shaft 92 (FIG. 10) iscontinuously rotated counterclockwise through a pulley 95 (FIG. 9) by anelectric motor not shown in the drawings. Secured to the sleeve 94 isalso a bored disk 96 having two rows of readable elements or holes 97and 97' each one adapted to be read by a corresponding photoelectriccell 197 and 197. The holes 97 are in predetermined relationship withrespect to the cell 197 for causing the hammers 22 (FIG. 8) to print theselected characters while the carriage 78 effects an advancing orrightward movement, whereas the holes 97 (FIG. 5) are in prede terminedrelationship with respect to the cell 197" for enabling the hammers 22(FIG. 8) to print the selected characters while the carriage 78 etfectsa return or leftward movement. The disk 96 (FIG. 9) is also providedwith a starting hole 198 adapted to be read by a correspondingphotoelectric cell 199.

The carriage 78 is transversely slidable through a stroke which isslightly longer than the distance between two adjacent typewheels 15,each typewheel 15 being adapted to print only on one fourth of thelength of the printing line. The carriage 78 is provided with a pair ofpins 99 secured to the arms 81 and adapted to be engaged each one by acorresponding spring urged locking member 98 to lock yieldably thecarriage 78 at each one of the two end positions of the carriage stroke.

The sleeve 94 is connected through a pair of pinions 100 to anothertransverse shaft 101 rotatably mounted on two side walls 191 of a secondcontainer 102 secured to the machine. The shaft 101 is provided with twoportions 103 and 104 threaded on opposite directions, which mayalternately be engaged by two corresponding nuts 105 and 106 secured toa shaft 107. This latter is slidable on the side walls 191 of thecontainer 102 and is adapted to be rocked from the rest position shownin FIG. 10 alternately to a pair of oppositely rocked positions. Theright hand end of the shaft 107 (FIG. 9) is connected through a nut 108to a projection 109 of the container 79, to enable the shaft 107 torotate with respect to the projection 109 and to be transversely bodilymoved With the carriage 78 in both directions.

Furthermore, secured to the shaft 107 is a hub 110 integral with aspherical member 111 having a notch 112 (FIGS. 11 and 12) adapted toalternately cooperate with the spherical end of two elements or pins 113and 114 ('FIG. 9). Each pin 113, 114 is slidably mounted on two holesprovided at each end of a pair of similar swing levers 115 and 116secured to a sleeve 117 rotatable on a stationary pivot 188-. Each pin113 and 114 is urged forward, by a corresponding compression spring 119.The lever 116 is linked through a link 120' with a lever 121 (FIG. 11)rotatably and slidably mounted on a stationary pivot 122 (FIG. 9) andnormally urged rightwards by a compression spring 123. The lever 121 isadapted to cooperate with a cam 124 secured to the shaft 101, the cam124 being provided with a bevelled portion 125.

Furthermore, fulcrumed on the pivot 118 is a lever 126 (FIG. 12)normally urged by a spring 127 to contact a pin 128 secured to an arm192 of the lever 116. The lever 126 is also provided with a lug 129normally urged by a spring 134 to contact a lever 1'32 fulcrumed on astationary pivot 133 and normally contacting a stationary pin 136.Secured to the lever 132 is an armature 137 of an electromagnet 138. Thelever 126 is provided with another lugs 139 normally contacted by an arm142 of a bail 143, which is fulcrumed on a stationary shaft 144 and isurged counterclockwise by a spring 141. The bail 143 is provided with anarm 146 having an upper edge inclined in opposite directions and adaptedto cooperate with the hub 110.

Finally, secured to the shaft 107 (FIG. 10) is a pin 148 having aspherical end 149 adapted to be guided by an axial rib 151 (FIG. 9) andtwo tapered projections 152 and 153 provided on the top plate 193 of thecontainer 102. The two containers 79 and 102 are hermetically closed andthe container members are oil immersed.

The printing device of FIGS. 812 operates as follows:

It is assumed that the carriage 78 is standing at the left hand end ofthe line as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 and the shaft 107 is located at itsangular rest position wherein the two nuts 105 and 105 (FIG. 10) areboth disengaged from the threaded portions 103 and 104 (FIG. 9). Thenotch 1.1-2 (FIG. 12) of the member 111 is engaged by the left pin 113'(FIG. 9), whereas the levers 115 and 116 (FIG. 12) are in horizontalposition and the lever 122 does not contact the cam E124.

The electric motor through the pulley -95' (FIG. 9) continuously rotatesthe sleeve 94 bodily with the disk 96, the shaft 92 and the worm wheels91. These latter through the worm Wheels 90 continuously rotate the fourypewheels 15 (FIG. 8) clockwise. Furthermore the shaft '2 through thepinions 100 rotates the shaft 101 (FIG. .0) clockwise.

A starting signal generated by the apparatus controlling he printingdevice, in concomitance with a pulse gen- :rated by the cell 199 uponreading the hole 198 (FIG. of the disk 96, energizes the electromagnet138 (FIG. l2). The lever 132 is now rocked counterclockwise, thus'ocking the lever 126 clockwise, whereby the lug 139 be- :omestemporarily locked in the rocked position by the lI'IIl 142 of the bail143. Now the spring 127 urges the ever 116 to rock clockwise, thuscausing through the link L20 the lever 121 (FIG. 11) to contact the cam124.

When the bevelled surface 125 of the cam 124 reaches he lever 121, thespring 127 (FIG. 12) rocks the levers [15 and 116 clockwise on the pivot118. Then the pin 113 "151165 the member 111 upwards thus rocking theshaft L07 (FIG. 10) counterclockwise, and causing the nut 105 o engagethe threaded portion 103 (FIG. 9) of the shaft l01. Furthermore, thebevelled surface 125 (FIG. 12) lisplaces the lever 122 axially leftward,thus compressing he spring 123 (FIG. 9), whereby the lever 122 isdistbled.

Now the threaded portion 103 (FIG. 9) through the int 105 and the shaft107 displaces the carriage 78 from eft to right at the speed of oneletter space during each evolution of the typewheels 15. During thisdisplacement he shaft 107 is locked in the reached angular positionvhrough the pin 148 cooperating with the axial rib 151 of he plate 193.At each revolution of the typewheels 15 FIG. 8) each hammer 22 isselectively operated upon *eceiving a signal emitted by a suitablememory, in con- :omitance with the corresponding pulse generated by the:ell 197 (FIG. 9) in reading a hole 97 to strike on a lelected type ofthe corresponding typewheel 15 (FIG. 8). therefore the four typewheels15 are caused to simultaieously print four portions of the printingline.

When the carriage 78 reaches the middle part of its .troke, the hub 110engages the upper edge of the arm [46 (FIG. 12), thus rocking the bail143 clockwise. Now he arm 142 of the bail 143 releases the lug 139,whereby he spring 134 restores the lever 126 counterclockwisetimultaneously with the levers 115 and 116, which are reurned into theirhorizontal position. In turn due to its veight the lever 132 returns tocontact the stationary pin [36 independently of the restoration of thelever 126, as :oon as the electromagnet 138 is deenergized. Since theever 121 is now returned to the angular position shown 11 FIG. 11, thespring 123 (FIG. 9) restores the lever 121 txially rightwards.

When the carriage 78 approaches the right end of the printing line, thepin 114 is engaged by the spherical mem- Jer 111, which is still lockedin the counterclockwise posiion by the rib 151 (FIG. 9), whereby thespring 119 is low compressed. Then the pin 149 of the shaft 107 en-:ounters the tapered projection 153 which returns the shaft [07 to thecentral angular position, whereby the nut 105 :FIG. 10) disengages thethreaded portion 103. Now the nember 111 (FIG. 9) brings the notch 112in front of the )in 114, which is caused by the spring 119 to snap intohe notch 112. The last portion of the stroke of the car- 'iage 78 ishelped by the right hand spring urged locking nember 98 which engagesthe corresponding pin 99 and :hen yieldably locks the carriage 78 in theright hand end positions.

Now the sprocket feed devices 87 cause the paper to be ine spaced.Thereafter a new starting signal energizes the :lectromagnet 138,whereby the levers 115 and 116 (FIG. [2) are rocked clockwise as in thepreceding case. Since 10W the member 111 engages the pin 114 the shaft107 FIG. 10) is rotated clockwise and the nut 106 engages :he threadedportion 104. The carriage 78 (FIG. 8) now :egins to effect a return orleftward movement during which the hammers 22 are controlled by thepulses gen-- erated by the cell 197 (FIG. 9) upon reading the holes 97of the disk 96 in concomitance with the selecting signals given by asuitable memory in a manner known per se.

Near the middle of the printing line the hub (FIG. 12) engages the arm146 of the bail 143, thus releasing the lever 126. When the carriage 78approaches the beginning of the line the member 111'(FIG. 9) engages thepin 113 in a manner similar to that of the pin 114. In turn the pin 149engages the tapered projection 152, thus causing the nut 106 todisengage the threaded portion 104. The carriage 78 is now locked by theleft hand locking member 98 while the sprocket feed devices 87 (FIG. 8)cause the paper to be line spaced.

It is intended that many changes, improvements and additions of partsmay be made in the described high speed serial printing device withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention as defined in the appendedclaims.

What I claim is:

1. In a high speed serial printing device for teleprinters, accountingmachines, and data processing equipments, having a typewheel mounted ona substantially vertical shaft, means for continuously rotating saidtypewheel, a hammer selectively operable to effect a flying striking ofa selected type of said typewheel, a frame for mounting said typewheeland said hammer in an aligned transverse relationship, paper supportmeans for locating the paper between said typewheel and said hammer, andfeeding means for causing said paper and said frame to be relativelyletter spaced, the improvement comprising:

(a) a first major sector on said typewheel having a set of typesperipherally arranged substantially parallel to said shaft, said typesbeing separated by voids,

(b) a second minor sector on said typewheel being devoid of types,

(c) connecting means for connecting said typewheel to said feeding meansto enable said feeding 'means to effect at a constant speed a feedingmovement at least equal to one letter space during one revolution ofsaid typewheel,

(d) operating means conditionable for causing said hammer to strike saidtypewheel,

(e) and [a] pulse generating means [comprising a disk rotatablesynchronously] synchronous with said typewheel [and adapted] to generatein association with each type of said first sector a specifically timedoperating pulse to condition said operating means for causing saidhammer to strike the progressively more trailing types in respect to theleading types on said first sector at progressively displaced positionswith respect to said hammer in the advancing direction of said paper toprint during each revolution of said typewheel any type in the range ofa predetermined letter space of said paper, even if such paper iseffecting said constant speed for being letter spaced.

2. A device according to claim 1, comprising in combination:

(f) a striking face on said hammer having a width the ratio of whichwith respect to said letter space is equal to the ratio between thelength of said first sector and the circumference of said typewheel.

(g) said voids having the minimum width required to prevent said hammerfrom simultaneously striking two adjacent types, the width of said voidsbeginning from the leading type to the middle type of said first sectorbeing progressively decreasing, the width of said voids beginning fromsaid middle type to the trailing type of said first sector beingprogressively increasing.

3. A device according to claim 1, comprising in combination:

(f) a normally deenergized electromagnet comprised in said operatingmeans,

(g) an armature drivable by said electromagnet for operating saidhammer,

(h) a stationary box located at the opposite side of said armature withrespect to said electromagnet, (i) and a stack of plates housed in saidbox for cushioning the shock and reducing the vibration of said armatureupon deenergization of said electromagnet,

(j) said second sector having an angular expanse at.

least equal to the product of the angular speed of said typewheel by thetime required by said hammer and said armature to become restored uponsaid deenergization.

4. In a serial printing device for teleprinters, accounting machines anddata processing equipments, having a continuously rotatable typewheeland a hammer selectively operable for striking a selected type of saidtypewheel, the improvement comprising:

(a) a normally deenergized electromagnet,

(b) an armature drivable by said electromagnet for operating saidhammer,

(c) a stationary box located at the opposite side of said armature withrespect to said electromagnet,

(d) a stack of substantially flat plates housed in said box, said plateshaving a predetermined small gap therebetween, said armature beingspring urged to normally bear against said stack,

(e) and timing means for controlling the energization of saidelectromagnet at the instant when a selected type of said typewheelpasses in front of said hammer, said stack due to said gap betweenadjacent plates being adapted to cushion the shock and to reduce thevibrations of said armature upon deenergization of said electromagnet,thus reducing the time required for restoration of said armature andsaid hammer.

5. A device according to claim 1, comprising in combination:

(f) at least a further hammer operable independently from said firstnamed hammer,

(g); and tape feeding means associated with each one of said hammers forcontinuously feeding a tape between said typewheel and the associatedhammer, whereby at least two different print works may be simultaneouslyproduced.

6. A device according to claim 5, comprising in combination:

(h) a single set of readable elements provided on said [disk] pulsegenerating means in positions corresponding to those of said types onsaid typewheel,

(i) and a reading member associated with each one of said hammers foralternately generating a pulse upon reading each one of said elements.

7. A device according to claim 1, comprising in combination:

(f), a transversely movable carriage mounting said typewheel and saidhammer,

(g) direction selecting means for causing said feeding means to movesaid carriage alternatively in opposite directions to enable said hammerand said typewheel to print during both the advancing and the returnmovement of said carriage,

(h) a first set of readable pulse generating elements on said [disk]pulse generating means,

(i) a first reading member adapted to read said first set of elements tocontrol the operation of said hammer during said advancing movement,

(j) a second set of readable pulse generating elements on said [disk]pulse generating means,

(k) and a second reading member adapted to read said second set ofelements to control the operation of said hammer during said returnmovement.

' -8. A device according to claim 1, comprising in combination:

(f) a transversely movable carriage mounting said typewheel and saidhammer,

(g) a single shaft having a pair of threaded portions in oppositedirections,

(h) a pair of nuts associated with said threaded portions andalternately engageable with the associated threaded portion for movingsaid carriage alternately in opposite directions to enable said hammerand said typewheel to print during both the advancing and the returnmovement of said carriage.

9. A device according to claim 8, comprising in combination:

(i) a member carrying said nuts and transversely movable bodily withsaid carriage,

(j) and means effective at each end of the printing line for causingsaid member to alternate said nuts in engaging said threaded portions.

10. A device according to claim 8, comprising in combination:

(i) a rockable member carrying said nuts and transversely movable bodilywith said carriage,

(j) a swing [lover] lever rockable in a constant direction under thecontrol of a starting signal,

(k) a pair of elements at the ends of said swing lever and adapted toengage said member at the ends of a printing line for rocking saidmember alternately in opposite directions,

(1) and a cam synchronously rotating with said typewheel to control saidswing lever so as to be rocked at a predetermined instant.

11. A device according to claim 7, comprising in combination:

(i) at least a further typewheel,

(j) and an associated hammer mounted on said carriage, each one of saidtypewheels and the associated [shammer bing cause] hammer being causedto print a corresponding portion of a printing line.

12. A high-speed serial line printing device for use with teleprinlers,accounting machines, data processing equipment and the like comprising:

(a) a frame;

(b) a typ carrier mechanism mounted on the frame, said typecarriermechanism including a series of types and being operable to move thetypes at con-- stant speed through a closed path in a planesubstantially parallel to a line being printed and serially past aprinting position which is fixed relative to the frame;

(c) a hammer mounted on the frame adjacent said position, said hammerbeing selectively operable to effect a flying printing of any of saidtypes in response to a corresponding signal;

(d) paper support means for supporting a piece of paper at said printingposition; means for causing sand paper and said frame to be relativelyletter spaced at a constant speed in a direction along said line beingprinted as the types are moved through said closed path at constantspeed; and

(e) control means operably coupled with said hammer and said typecarrier mechanism including means for generating pulses indicating theposition of the type carrier mechanism and operating means responsive tothe pulses for causing the hammer to strike each of the various types ofsaid series at a respective position displaced from said fixed positiona distance and direction determined by the relative location of eachtype in the series, whereby to register the type, at the time it isstruck by the hammer, with a pre-determined letter space of saidprinting line.

13. The printing device of claim 12 further including:

(g) at least another typecarrier mechanism mounted on said frame;

(h) movement control means for confining the movement of said frame to adistance which is equal to the spacing between said typecarriermechanisms.

14. The printing device of claim 13 further including:

(i) means for reversing the movement of said frame so that said framemoves at said constant speed in both directions toenable said hammer andsaid typecarrier mechanism to print a'uring movement of said frame inboth. directions. 7

atent.

UNITED STATES- PATENTS Von Pei n 101-90 X Rid1er Q l; 178-34 Ruderfer19712 Dumey 10190 X 12 MzwDonald 101- 93 'Masterson 1 0 1-93 C Hense101-93 Thiemann 1. .10193 Potter 101-93 West etal. 1019 3 Brown et a1.19718 --Bretti -1.0193

10 WILLI'AM'B. PENN, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.'

